Where Else Could a Few $ Go?
Austin Involed’s program model is based on giving just a little bit of time and money every month: we each contribute $25 a month and about 3 hours of volunteer time. It’s a small enough amount that it’s do-able for most of us, but when we combine it, it makes a big difference.
So what else could you do with $25 a month, or some other small amount that requires little more than packing your lunch once a week or making coffee at home?
Marty McKellips from the Red Cross of Central Texas says that regular, moderate giving actually helps local Red Crosses far more than donating after a disaster. Though generosity is always appreciated, the Red Cross actually starts generating major expenses way in advance of most disasters, and the money that comes in weeks after an event is sometimes too late to help get the critical front-line assistance where it needs to go. By donating a small amount regularly, you could help the Red Cross purchase vehicles, pay for trained medical professionals, and provide food and supplies within the first days after a disaster. (By the way, the same thought process also applies to volunteering for the Red Cross, I’m told: the volunteers who went to Haiti, for example, had been through more than 6 months of training, in most cases. They were prepped in advance, and couldn’t just hop into the fray after the fact)
Another great idea for loose change just hit my inbox: On September 9th, Ronald McDonald House Charities is asking families to dig that spare change from the couch cushions and the cup holders to help keep families and children together while kids are in the hospital. Drop your spare change off in a donation box at any McDonalds on the 9th — if every single McDonalds customer did it, this great organization would raise $94million!
Small donations add up for every organization, and being able to count on monthly donations coming in regularly can in fact be beneficial for organizations planning their budgets. So don’t shy away from donating just because you can’t give a ton at once – the small, steady donations might actually be even more helpful than you realized!
